Ceramic Coating & PPF Guide: Compare
IGL Kenzo vs Quartz+ vs EZ: The Differences
IGL Coatings makes the three coatings The Auto Show installs: Ecocoat Kenzo (the 5-year tier), Ecocoat Quartz+ (3-year) and Ecocoat EZ (1-year). They share a family resemblance, but they are built differently: different amounts of active material, one layer or two, and very different working times for the installer.
Everything below comes from IGL's published product pages and technical data sheets, so you can see what actually separates them rather than relying on marketing names.
The short answer
Kenzo is IGL's flagship: 100% active material in a base and top layer, rated 10H and up to 5 years, and sold only to installers IGL has trained. Quartz+ is a two-layer hybrid with 90% active material, rated 9H, with a slick self-cleaning surface. EZ is a single-layer, multi-surface coating rated for up to 12 months. More solids and layers mean more durability and more demanding installation.
Key points
- Active material: Kenzo 100%, Quartz+ 90%, according to IGL; EZ is a lighter single-layer formula.
- Kenzo and Quartz+ go on as a base layer and a top layer; EZ is one wipe-on layer.
- All three list graphene in their current formulas and all three fully cure in 3 to 5 days, per IGL's data sheets.
- Kenzo is restricted to installers with IGL's Kenzo training; EZ is also sold to do-it-yourselfers.
- The shop sells them as 5-year, 3-year and 1-year tiers, based on rated durability with proper maintenance.
Kenzo
Ecocoat Kenzo: the 5-year flagship
IGL describes Kenzo as a 10H coating with 100% active material and 0% solvent, which it says creates a thick film build. The current version is reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets, and IGL rates it for up to 5 years, with improved resistance to water spots. It comes as a kit with 20 ml of base and 20 ml of top coat.
Kenzo is the only one of the three that IGL restricts: it is available only to professional installers with Kenzo training certification. The data sheet explains why it needs care. The base is buffed off after about 5 to 10 minutes, the top coat goes on after roughly 2 hours at normal temperatures and is buffed after 0.5 to 2 minutes, and the car should stay dry for about 4 hours. IGL also lists at least 500 hours of salt spray resistance for the fully cured film.
Quartz+
Ecocoat Quartz+: the 3-year hybrid
IGL calls Quartz+ a hybrid that combines two different ceramic coatings, applied as a base and a top layer. It lists 90% active material and 10% solvent, a 9H pencil hardness rating, and a water contact angle above 110 degrees. IGL says adding graphene nanoplatelets reduced the slip angle by about 20%, which in plain terms means water and dirt slide off more readily.
That slickness is what the "self-cleaning" label refers to: the surface stays cleaner between washes and releases dirt with less effort. It does not mean the car never needs washing. IGL's own page now advertises up to 4 years for Quartz+; the shop sells it as a 3-year coating, which leaves margin for real Upstate conditions.
One naming trap: IGL also sells a separate single-layer product called Ecocoat Quartz, without the plus. Its 2026 data sheet describes a different, one-layer system. If you are comparing quotes, confirm which one is being offered.
EZ
Ecocoat EZ: the 1-year entry coating
EZ is a single-layer coating that IGL describes as a cyclosilazane network with graphene, rated for up to 12 months of chemical, UV and contaminant protection. It is the most versatile of the three: IGL lists paint, clear coat, plastic and rubber trim, wheels and calipers, headlights, and even PPF and vinyl wraps as suitable surfaces.
It is also the fastest to work with, but that speed cuts both ways. The data sheet calls for small 1 by 1 foot sections and leveling within about 1 minute, with smaller sections still in heat and humidity. IGL markets EZ to do-it-yourselfers as well as installers, which tells you it is the most approachable of the three, not that prep matters less.
Hardness
What 8H, 9H and 10H tell you
The H numbers come from pencil hardness testing, a standard method (ASTM D3363 is the common one) that checks which grade of pencil lead marks a cured film. Higher means the cured layer resists light marring a little better. It does not mean the coating can stop a rock chip, a key scratch or swirls from a dirty wash mitt; the layer is far too thin for that.
Treat hardness as one data point. For most owners, active content, number of layers and the rated life matter more, and the quality of the paint prep matters most of all.
In common
What all three share
- Bonding depends on prep: each data sheet recommends abrasive polishing, an iron remover, a wash and a degreasing wipe, and coating immediately afterward.
- Application limits: none should go on in direct sun, on a hot panel or below 41°F, and each needs ventilation.
- Unleveled film that hardens for more than 12 hours has to be polished off and reapplied.
- Full cure takes 3 to 5 days, with no harsh shampoos or caustic cleaners in that window.
- Long-term care: cleaners in the pH 3 to 9 range; IGL says strong acids or alkalis are unnecessary.
- All three are marked safe for both matte and gloss paint on IGL's product pages.
Quotes
Questions to ask about any IGL coating quote
- Which exact product is it: Kenzo, Quartz+ or the single-layer Quartz? The names are close but the systems differ.
- How many layers go on, and how long does the car stay inside to cure before pickup?
- What prep is included: wash, iron remover, clay, polishing stage and a panel wipe before the coating?
- Is the paint being enhanced or fully corrected first, and which defects will remain?
- Are wheels, glass, trim or other surfaces included, or priced as add-ons?
- If a manufacturer warranty applies, what maintenance does IGL require and what paperwork will you receive?
A clear answer to each of these tells you more about the result than the hardness number on the box.
Who it suits
Matching the coating to the owner
- KenzoFrom $1,299.98 (coupe)
- New or freshly corrected cars you will keep five years or more, garage-kept enthusiast cars, and owners who want the longest interval before recoating.
- Quartz+From $899.98 (coupe)
- Daily drivers kept three to four years, especially cars parked outside that benefit from the slicker, easier-to-wash surface.
- EZFrom $699.98 (coupe)
- First-time coating owners, cars being sold or returned from lease within a year or two, and owners who want an annual refresh. Choosing by years
Starting prices for the coating at The Auto Show; larger vehicles cost more, and prep is quoted after inspection.
| Kenzo | Quartz+ | EZ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop tier | 5-year | 3-year | 1-year |
| Hardness rating | 10H | 9H | 8H |
| Active material (IGL) | 100% | 90% | Not stated |
| Layers | Base + top | Base + top | Single |
| Installer working time | Base buffed in 5 to 10 min | Base buffed in 2 to 5 min | Leveled within about 1 min |
| Availability (IGL) | IGL-trained installers only | Sold as a dual-layer system | Marketed to pros and DIY |
| Full cure | 3 to 5 days | 3 to 5 days | 3 to 5 days |
From IGL product pages and technical data sheets accessed October 2026. Hardness ratings are the ones the shop publishes. Rated life assumes proper maintenance.
Which IGL coating fits your car?
We will inspect the paint, talk through how you drive and park, and quote the coating and prep that make sense. Every coating starts with at least a Level 2 detail.
Common questions
Is IGL Kenzo worth the extra over Quartz+?
If you will keep the car five years or more and maintain it, usually yes: Kenzo's longer rating lowers the cost per year and means one prep and coating instead of two. If you plan to sell within three years, Quartz+ delivers most of the day-to-day benefit for less. The prep underneath matters more to the look than the choice between them.
Can I buy IGL Kenzo and apply it myself?
Not through normal channels. IGL states Kenzo is strictly available to professional installers with its Kenzo training certification. EZ is the IGL coating marketed to do-it-yourselfers. Whichever product you use, the result depends on decontamination, polishing and leveling the coating before it hardens.
Can IGL EZ go on wheels, trim and PPF?
IGL lists paint, plastic and rubber trim, wheels and calipers, headlights, PPF and vinyl wraps as suitable surfaces for EZ. At The Auto Show, wheels, wheel faces, exterior plastics and glass are priced as add-ons, so ask for a price if you want those coated along with the paint.
Do all three IGL coatings contain graphene?
According to IGL, yes. Kenzo and Quartz+ are described as reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets and EZ as graphene reinforced. In each case graphene is an additive inside a silica-based ceramic coating, not a separate type of coating, so the prep, curing and washing routine are the same as for any other ceramic coating.
Sources
- Ecocoat Kenzo (Graphene Reinforced), IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/products/ecocoat-kenzo-graphene-reinforced/), accessed October 2026
- Technical Data Sheet: Ecocoat Kenzo K1, IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tds_ecocoat_kenzo_K1_154343.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Ecocoat Quartz+ Graphene Reinforced, IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/products/ecocoat-quartz-plus/), accessed October 2026
- Technical Data Sheet: Ecocoat Quartz+, IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tds_ecocoat_quartz_154310.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Technical Data Sheet: Ecocoat Quartz (single layer, v2.00), IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/tds_ecocoat_quartz_154283_v2.0.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Ecocoat EZ, IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/products/ecocoat-ez/), accessed October 2026
- Technical Data Sheet: Ecocoat EZ, IGL Coatings (https://iglcoatings.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tds_ecocoat_ez_154325.pdf), accessed October 2026
- ASTM D3363 Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test, ASTM International (https://www.astm.org/d3363-22.html), accessed October 2026
Prices on this page are The Auto Show’s published starting prices and are confirmed after we inspect the vehicle. Product ratings and warranty terms come from the manufacturers.